ALIEN ON EARTH — Ch 6
PR….. For The Lord
If Paul was around now, he would not be writing letters to our Churches he would fly around with a rod to beat sense into us and sadly that includes some of our leaders too.
We are so obsessed with being the centre of attention, so obsessed with being above those whom we do not like, being above the rest in the family or neighbourhood or friends that we would do anything possible to get their envious reactions by boasting.
Sadly all of David’s laments in Psalms against his enemies where he literally had to flee for life are used to justify our means of petty fights and enmity with each other and we quote David and pretend to be the victim.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” Oh the amount of times this has been used by some of us in prayer for every little thing we have faced.
It doesn’t end there now, does it? We can never be satisfied with that, this is the case when our enemies are Christians.
When it comes to non-Christians entirety of the Bible is used to quote against them and when that is done and the other party suffers the slightest grievance we are seen celebrating with “Revenge is Mine says the Lord.”
To our humble selves please know that these verses were written with a reason not for us to quote and marvel at other’s inequities.
How are you a Christian when you celebrate at the sight of someone going through something bad?
Also, know this if that isn’t enough reason to stop you from gloating this should:
Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them — Proverbs 24:17–18
Revenge won’t be done darling, continue to gloat.
Isn’t your Lord’s biggest command this:
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” — John 13:34–35
Yeah, this is completely editable for us, right?
Bible verses are used to portray our righteousness before the crowd and oh the feeling of accomplishment we get when we get the result we expected.
Our hypocrisy doesn’t end there now, does it?
Those of you who said “Nope I never marvel at others’ misery” when you read the above things let me ask you something, “Do you also never boast about your victories?”
If your boasting is about “After nearly a month of spiritual battle my prayers have been answered and I am no longer reeling in anxiety” that’s testimony, that is something all of heaven’s rejoice over.
I am talking about our new version of boasting. The new translation of “Let the one who boast, boast in the Lord.”
Because right from our Christian leaders to every one of us think if a non-believer can showcase such and such thing and boast about it saying “Hard Work Pays” what is wrong with me posting the same and saying “Prayer Works”? I mean what’s the harm right?
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
When Paul says to boast in the Lord he talks about this and we obviously who have taken up the job of doing PR for the Lord take this verse in a whole new meaning don’t we?
“What’s wrong with us showing off what God gave us?” “This will bring more people to God when they see Christians aren’t dull people” “This will attract Youngsters towards God”
My dear bro, you entire base of this conversation is corrupted. What makes you think God needs a PR?
If he did he would’ve dropped Jesus on Earth as a King on the throne and he would’ve said “Wealth I leave you, My wealth do I leave you, Not as the world gives.”
What does boasting have to do with living as an Alien on Earth you ask? Let me tell you, those who have things to boast about will do it, then when the target gets something better or achieves something higher what do you do?
You start asking God for the same thing or something better than that to be the successful one. God will not give it to you if that is not meant for you if that will harm you in the end or if that will take you away from him, will we understand that and let go?
No, we will fight with God ask him every day or give up on him little by little and will end up trying to get it like how others of this world get it because they seem to get it with no limit right?
Then let alone living as an Alien on Earth you will end up forgetting your only Father in Heaven.
Is there then a more direct verse which asks us not to boast about stuff? Yes it does:
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
For everything in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — comes not from the Father but from the world
1 John 2: 15–16
If you see these two verses they start with a command not to love the world and if you still do then “Love for the Father” is not in you.
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Then you see John list the things of this world that you should avoid and that includes, “lust of the flesh and eyes, and the pride of life” Now if you see the “Pride of Life” part there are many translations in English Bibles for this part.
And the one that I loved the most and actually made more sense is in the TNIV Youth Bible which does not say “Pride of Life” but simplifies it and says “Boasting about what they have and do.”
Pride of Life is a perfect definition for this but, this translation gets the message clear. So, in a way, no for a fact, you are asked to stay away from “Pride of Life” aka “Boasting about what you have and do.”
Now why I am being on your tail about boasting is cleared let us get back to the topic.
What does someone usually boast about? Something they are proud of, something others can’t get easily, something that makes them happy.
So as a Christian what should make you happy, what are you proud of, what is that thing that others can’t have that you have?
If it’s the same thing others have and are showcasing, then how are you any different? “I got it with prayer!” Nope, that doesn’t count.
Ever wondered why Jesus is called “Prince of Peace”? No matter how you look at it only thing that everyone from the richest to the poorest lacks in this world and cannot buy is Peace.
Luxury brands, clothes, cars, houses or food, anyone can buy as long as they work hard and other factors work in their favour with God’s grace, but no amount of working hard can ever give you peace and that is what you get freely and without limit so, shouldn’t you boast about that?
Leave boasting about your sufferings we can never measure up to what Paul quoted in his sufferings we live in a too comfortable world for that at least can’t we try and be proud and happy about what we have that others truly can’t get but need?
Should we then post “Sucks to be you, I got peace?” No, show people with your life and actions what it takes to live a life filled with contentment and peace.
Some of us begin with boasting about what we got from prayer then it never ends, we keep wanting more to show off and our end will be much worse.
Because greed is as alive as we are and it can swallow us at any time. We know this verse “Money is the root of all evil” but many aren’t aware of what leads to this verse. Here’s what Paul says to Timothy:
“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”
(heard this a million times yet it remains as real as the sky.)
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
(not the luxury ones)
Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
(for those who crave to be rich more than anyone else as per the world, it is “having dreams and goals”, but not for us)
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
“Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
1 Timothy 6: 6–10
God, who loves rewarding people with wealth shouldn’t be saying these right? Because one of the blessings from God includes wealth, what is this about?
If you look closely it says “Eager for Money” and “Want to get rich” The Bible has always been against sluggards and those who eat without working so no, this does not mean you laze around all your life.
That’s why all these verses start with “But Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Those who are “Eager for Money” or “Want to get rich” will never be content no matter how much you give them. Why is God so against people like this no matter how you beautify and portray this? Here’s why:
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” — Matthew 6:19–21
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Will your heart still be in heaven when your treasures are on Earth?
You see we have a God who would give up his one and only son whom he has loved even before the creation of Earth to save our useless and worthless selves when he has made the utmost sacrifice to save us from getting grilled in hell for all eternity, he will obviously not let us get destroyed by something as petty as wealth and greed.
That’s why he who knows us even before we were formed in our mother’s womb, gives us what we can handle. He knows who can handle what and allotted our portion.
Does that mean I live as a nobody all my life? No! You work towards what God shows you and he will give you what you need and more.
His hand is not too short and he who can give us more than we could ask or imagine will not keep anything from us because of a bad mood!
He has a purpose and reason for everything, and he is not a moody teenager. He has pre-planned every single thing even before the world was created so are we really in the right place to teach him?
As to what we are continuously told by our modern leaders, yes God wants us to have a comfortable life on Earth but that does not mean devoid of any trouble.
This world will and should never be your comfort place, the minute it is, then something is wrong with you.
So I can’t ask for my monthly rent, promotion, bonus or basic needs? Hell no, bro you can! Actually, you need not even ask those he will provide that he is able to do that and if you are lacking in your most basic needs, sister brother time to find God truly and fix what needs to be fixed.
This is about our dear sisters and brothers who just spent thousands of dollars on something from their savings to boast about it saying God gave them that only to find that something newer has dropped and you want that too.
Do not get too comfortable in a place where the love of your life isn’t around. That is, if you love him truly…..
